Onion farmers to sell direct to major retailers

(Source: Fresh Plaza | 28 November 2016)

On November 25, five of the Philippine’s biggest supermarket chains committed to buy direct from the country’s onion and garlic farmers. The move marks the start of the struggle to dismantle the cartels controlling these important commodities in the country.

SM, Rustan’s, Mindanao-based NCCC Mall, ShopWise and SaveMore will now source their garlic and onion supplies from the Filipino farmers.

With this development, all that is needed now is for the Dept. of Agriculture to work out a system with which the onion farmers of the country, especially those from Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, will be able to deliver their produce to these chain of supermarkets.

The first thing that the onion farmers need will be a working capital which would be used in buying the produce of their members to be delivered to these supermarkets.

The farmers need a revolving capital because the supermarkets have a payment system which would not allow direct payment upon delivery.

The second issue will be the storage facilities for the onion and garlic and perhaps delivery trucks so that they could directly bring their products to the NCCC Malls in Mindanao.